Yard MD: Enchanting witch hazel shows its color late

Oct. 17, 2013

Native witch hazel features unusual, spidery blooms that cover the twigs and branches during late fall into winter. Some hybrid varieties may not begin blooming until January or later. / Rob Zimmer/Post-Crescent Media

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One of my favorite experiences of autumn is to witness the blooming of native witch hazel in the woodlands and forest edges of our area.

These unusual shrubs, which grow in areas beneath the forest canopy, in woodland openings, or at the forest edge, feature large, oyster-shaped leaves that turn a bright golden yellow during September and October.

The origin of the name “witch hazel” is not as dark and foreboding as it may appear. Rather, “witch” is derived from an old term meaning “pliable” or “bendable,” and “hazel” was used by early colonial settlers due to its similarity to English hazel.

The pliable or bendable part was fitting as the plant was, and still is, used in the craft of “water witching,” or as a water divining rod.

One of a kind flowers

As the leaves begin to fall, witch hazel magically blooms. Native witch hazel blossoms feature thin, waxy, wiry petals that twist and spiral outward from a central cone. These flowers often last well into December, even into January and February, depending on weather conditions.

Hybrid witch hazels, which are a product of the Japanese and Chinese witch hazels , bloom even later, or earlier, depending on how you look at it. The shrubs may not begin blooming until February or March.

While the native witch hazel blooms in bright lemony yellow, some of the hybrids bloom in other colors, such as peach, orange, pink, red, wine, purple and white.

Read plant labels and do your research before purchasing hybrid varieties of witch hazel, as many are only marginally hardy here in our zone 4 and zone 5 climate.

If you find a variety offered for sale at a local garden center, be sure to ask questions and check the label to ensure you are buying a hardy plant for our area. Or check out the stock at a local tree and shrub nursery, where woody plants are their specialty.

More than 100 hybridized cultivars of witch hazel are now in existence. This makes choosing them somewhat difficult if you are not familiar with their hardiness and bloom times.

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With names such as Strawberries and Cream, Purple Ribbons, Amethyst and Harvest Moon, the options are as rich and tasty as they may appear.

Witch hazel in your yard

With its unusual fall and winter blooms, witch hazel is an enchanting plant to include as a specimen plant in the landscape or garden.

Depending on the size of your property, you may want to plant a border of witch hazel or use multiple colors in combination. Just keep in mind, these are not miniature shrubs, and they will grow quite large.

For the best bloom, plant witch hazel in full sun. Plants grown in shade or part shade may not bloom as fully as those in more sun. This is especially true of the hybridized varieties. Native witch hazel tolerates a bit more shade.

Witch hazel prefers dry, loamy or sandy soils and do not do well in areas with heavy clay or moisture.

Be sure to leave plenty of room as the shrubs will grow to 15 feet high and wide.

Colorful bloom

For bloom color, yellow is by far the most popular and widely available, with dozens of varieties that blossom in shades of yellow and gold. Orange is the next most common color, ranging from bright, cheerful orange to a subtle coppery tone.

Red is the rarest color among witch hazel varieties, and you may need to resort to ordering online if you are interested in a shrub that blooms in this color.

One variety in particular, called “Diane,” offers spectacular shaggy, wiry, deep maroon-red flowers that cover the branches of the plant during fall and into winter.

Blooms that are wine or purple in color, while they sound amazing on paper, actually are a bit of a disappointment to me. This is because the flowers, because they are so dark, aren’t as noticeable against the bare branches as lighter colored flowers in yellow or orange.

Herbal and medicinal use

Witch hazel has long been used as a treatment for skin sores, acne, bruises, rashes and other skin problems. An extract, that can be made from steaming or boiling twigs, bark and leaves of the shrub, along with essential oil, is applied directly to the skin.

Witch hazel has many similar medicinal uses, and is available at most drug stores and pharmacies in one form or another. It has been used to treat skin blemishes, dry skin, diaper rash, chicken pox, as well as poison and poison oak.

Witch hazel is also used in the treatment of sunburn, as well as bug bites, such as mosquito bites and bee stings.

Of course, as with any natural or herbal treatment, always consult with your physician before beginning to use witch hazel in any form.